OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s governor does have the authority to cancel an inmate’s parole.

That’s the holding Thursday from the state Supreme Court in a case involving a man who shot a Richland police officer in 1982.

Jerry Dean Lain grabbed Officer Mike Fitzpatrick’s gun and shot him twice, including once in the face. Fitzpatrick suffered serious wounds but survived; he still works in law enforcement.

Lain was sentenced to at least 20 years and up to life in prison. A state board recommended he be granted parole in 2010, but after a campaign from Fitzpatrick and others in law enforcement, then-Gov. Chris Gregoire rejected that. Four Lakewood police officers had been killed by a parolee the previous year, and Gregoire noted that Lain was deemed to be a medium to high risk to commit future crimes.